Winebrenner (1992, p11) differentiates between situations which are "Boring A" and "Boring B".
Boring A: "I already know how to do that; could you please give me an opportunity to show you?"
Boring B: "At the present time, I do not know enough about this topic to be interested in it".
I believe that language students tend to face a "Boring B" situation, as they have not yet learned what is being taught, but are able to grasp the concept far more quickly than their peers (Winebrenner, 1992, p37).
Just to give an idea of how important pace can be, Rogers (2007, p.11) states that those with an IQ of 130 can learn and understand concepts up to eight times faster than those who are mildly learning disabled, with an IQ of 70. Therefore, the students who are able to quickly grasp the concepts being taught must be permitted to progress to activities in which they can use them, or given the time to investigate another topic which interests them, instead of “drill and kill” (Rogers, 2007, p.11).
Therefore, particularly when we're introducing new grammar or vocabulary, gifted students are feeling frustrated because they got it the first time (or possibly have already worked out a rule from language which they have seen, meaning it could be a 'boring A' situation), and want to move on to using the language, or a new topic.
Winebrenner, S. (1992). Teaching Gifted Kids in the Regular Classroom: Strategies and Techniques Every
Teacher Can Use to Meet the Academic Needs of the Gifted and Talented. Australia: Hawker Brownlow
Education.
Winebrenner (1992, p11) differentiates between situations which are "Boring A" and "Boring B".
Boring A: "I already know how to do that; could you please give me an opportunity to show you?"
Boring B: "At the present time, I do not know enough about this topic to be interested in it".
I believe that language students tend to face a "Boring B" situation, as they have not yet learned what is being taught, but are able to grasp the concept far more quickly than their peers (Winebrenner, 1992, p37).
Just to give an idea of how important pace can be, Rogers (2007, p.11) states that those with an IQ of 130 can learn and understand concepts up to eight times faster than those who are mildly learning disabled, with an IQ of 70. Therefore, the students who are able to quickly grasp the concepts being taught must be permitted to progress to activities in which they can use them, or given the time to investigate another topic which interests them, instead of “drill and kill” (Rogers, 2007, p.11).
Therefore, particularly when we're introducing new grammar or vocabulary, gifted students are feeling frustrated because they got it the first time (or possibly have already worked out a rule from language which they have seen, meaning it could be a 'boring A' situation), and want to move on to using the language, or a new topic.
References
Rogers, K. B. (2007) Science, mathematics and second language learning. Gifted. 145, pp.11-12. Retrieved
August 10, 2009, from http://search.informit.com.au/fullText;dn=162921;res=
Winebrenner, S. (1992). Teaching Gifted Kids in the Regular Classroom: Strategies and Techniques Every
Teacher Can Use to Meet the Academic Needs of the Gifted and Talented. Australia: Hawker Brownlow
Education.